The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-10-14
MISS BELL ON THE STAND.

MISS BELL ON THE STAND.
TRIAL OF CoURTLAND III. BLIvEN F0R
AIDING MALPRACTICE.
The Day Occupied In Hearing the Testimony
OF the Alleged vietin,-she Tells Her
story CeeiIy and with Smile.
The long -deferred trial OF CORTLAND H.
Bliven on an Indictment charging him with
aiding and abotting In case OF malpractice, In
which Miss Frances Gray Bell. better known
as Frankie Bell, was tho victim, was begun
yesterday before Judge Moore, in the Court Of
Sessions, Brooklyn. The prominence OF the
accused In church. business, yachting. ANA
teur theatrical. and society circles. and the
publicity given to the scandal six or seven
months ago. brought q crowd to tho court room,
and during the day there was not at any time
vacant seat In any part OF the room.
Miss Boil entered the court on the arm OF her
brother. and was accompanied by Mrs. Sophro-
mia Twitchell, the woman who has been 80 de-
terminedly fighting for the right OF suffrage,
and who lately made two unsuccessful at
tempts to have her name registered as voter
Miss Bell is amedium-sized, well-proportioned
woman, with brown hair. dark restless eyes,
and regular features, over which constant
ton OF sadness or anxiety in her manner. and
she looked as II she were listening to an
amusing dramatic performance. She was the
best and most attractively dressed woman in
the court room. She wore q close-fltting black
satin dress, trimmed with Jet and brown vel
vet hat, with white and black feathers. Brown
kid gloves covered her hands. and plain gold
earrings were all her jewelry. She did not
look more than the 2s years which she admit
ted whom she took the witness chair.
Mr. Bliven is small. slimly built man OF 40.
with light hair and blue eyes and very prom
Inent nose. For several years he had been a
pewholder and leading member In Dr. Tai
IMAGES church, and was one OF the founders
OF the Amaranth Dramatic Association. He
has made a fortune as a yacht builder and
broker. with an Office at 1853 Wall street. He
was defended by Jere Weinberg. and Mr.
Clarke. the young Assistant District Attorney,
conducted the prosecution.
Miss Boil was tho first witness and remained
on the stand for over four hours. She an
swered all the questions both on the direct and
cross examination in clear and calm VOICE
She never lost her composure and her smile
She testified that she first met Mr.. Bliven in
AtaS ayenge S Gd Ms he sSee
out, and said he thought he had met them be-
fore. She told him that she did not know MIN
Hao afHSbSl and Bysn
to scat IN his pew. and on leaving her t tola
her when she came to tine her tbe
ing Sunday, and during the services he handed
her a card and asked her to put her name and
for the amateur mi opera. She did SO and handed
him back the card, when he gave her two tick.
cts for the opera: This was the beginning OF
'n Soon alter this Biiven called at the house in
Hancock street. where she vas Ss living With
s sad showed her ao Masonic
her that he had been coprtine Miss Filth Ila
Day but had broken % hs
Biiven. after three or four visits to her, house,
proposed marriage, and she acceptsSS and at It
found that she was In trouble she begged him
to fulal his promise to marry her. but he re-
GRAFTON, which he said he could perform him
Then when she called at his office Miss Day
she he must leave or he would kick her down
stairs. After her, refusal to submit t. the
operation she received this letter from BiiVen
$s'
b People si should
an and ius
s.sa ses
sas 20. e
s5 81 r.
Miss Bell detailed the facts as to the NAL
jain ne house e Mr. Butler IN Bridge
notified no Of the matter Edith Day called on her
had had made and keep quiet. but She refused to
do so, Bliyen also came and offered to be her
friend for life II she would save him from the
'' On cross. examination she testified that she
was 28 years old. and for four years before De-
ss
She met Mr.. Bliven for the first time In Novem;
Der. 1886. she was in, no business; She had
until r his third or fourth visit to her house.
understand aH that he was very. religious man;
He also showed her a picture OF Edith Day, and
said that II she was lying at the point OF death
he could c save her life She did not think at
the time that his remark was inconsistent with
II It was in January that he made his first dec
laratioa Of love, and told her that he cared for
Miss Bell was very closely questioned as to
visit she made to New York with Bliven one
Sunday In the middle of February. She said:
c xsi
:ss
lady and . gentleman snow storm came up and
eighth street saw that house OF assiGnstion
but did not raise any objection We remained there
that night and chick len supper there.
iS
A letter was handed to Miss Bell. which she
admitted she had written to Bliven Just at the
eondus III Il Is dated Feb 25 and says 0'of m
BxRrIx DEAR: J. should never in the world have
known who the letter rrom-that Ia not from the
eomposition-hadI not looked At the signature for
raph boy. or boss, or anything Of the kind u Il were
your rayinEa Do You often have these . turns am
with yoS when last met you a. the TaSsr
they affect you and that chickens and telegraph boy,
you could have tina! photographic even though you
Where have you been and what doing that yoG could
afternoon and found - better but for some reason
she thought looked worser Strange what fancies PEG
pie have, isntit Y
myself opens mail 80 never hesitate on that &C
| count.
What has come you that not to say word To
and that you won't mey Well bert. live at n
Hancock street would be delighted to you there
N diana haltia rnai md mi CAV Qaa1 Inv